Unboxing: FairyLoot Deluxe Set of The Ember Quartet by Sabaa Tahir

 Hello, bibliovories! I'm back with an unboxing post! In the last year and a half, I've subscribed to three book subscription boxes - Illumicrate, The Bookish Box, and FairyLoot. One day I'll write a whole post on each company and what I like and dislike about them. Maybe I'll start posting unboxings of the monthly boxes for each company. But today, I'd like to share my unboxing of the first special edition set of books that I've bought from one of the many book subscription boxes - the signed Ember Quartet by Sabaa Tahir, created and sold by FairyLoot!

Here's the box!

Time to open...

What's the print on the top?

This is beautiful! Gold foil is one of my favorite designs. And all of the major characters of the book are here. I love that Elias and Laia are prominent.

Here is the set! Orange, blue, green, and purple. I love the animal symbols are the bottom of each spine.

Pretty sprayed spines!

More pretty spines!

The gorgeous stenciled design! So beautiful!

You thought I was done? Above is the hidden cover of Ember.

And Torch...

How about Reaper...

And Sky!

Did I mention that the books are signed?

And altogether:

And that's the set! It was a pretty penny, but absolutely worth it. I love this series so much, and I love this deluxe exclusive set so much. Many thanks to FairyLoot and Sabaa Tahir, for making this set available to readers for purchase!

A Reaper at the Gates Event Recap!

Hello and happy Sunday, readers! I'm excited to present my recap of the Politics & Prose event of the A Reaper at the Gates tour. It was a wonderful event (and my first time attending an event at this particular bookstore!). Check out my recap!

I had actually been on the fence about whether or not I wanted to attend this event, because trips to D.C. are very long and tiring, with the traffic and the sheer distance between Baltimore and D.C. When I saw that Politics & Prose was advertising a pre-event meet & greet (just like the Fairfax B&N did when Renée Ahdieh was in town a few weeks ago), I jumped at the chance. I decided that I hadn't yet preordered the book anyway, so why not preorder the book through P&P and get access to the meet & greet. As it would happen, I was preorder #17 (out of 20), so I was cutting it close!

The meet & greet was lovely! Unfortunately I arrived ten minutes late but it was still great. There were cupcakes, and I got a goodie bag that included my preorder of Reaper, a poster, a button, and the tote bag itself. I got to ask Sabaa a question (what she was working on next, besides this quartet) - she wasn't allowed to say much but what she did hint at is very exciting!

For the main event, Sabaa was in conversation with Everdeen Mason of the Washington Post. Everdeen is very intelligent lady who asked Sabaa some thought-provoking questions, like how the current political atmosphere has influenced her books. You'd be surprised (or maybe not?) to know how much of many current world issues Sabaa wrote into her books. Like refugee crises, refugee camps, cruel dictators, etc. Sabaa is so candid and honest about her political opinions, and I respect that. She isn't afraid to say things out loud. 

I wrote this on Instagram: I was humbled by this event. As an Indian-American girl who loves reading, loves dreaming, but never saw herself in YA lit (or any lit) as an adolescent/teen, I am so grateful to Sabaa for writing from the heart and including a South Asian cast. I am so grateful to her for incorporating heartbreaking, real-world events, like the refugee camps.

But most of all, I am so grateful to her for listening to my story. At the signing table, I told her about my own family's immigration story, how I've always been a dreamer but was pushed into the STEM fields because of my parents (#AsianParents) and because I have no one to fall back on and no financial security. How it's isolating to be an immigrant and/or child of immigrants.

Sabaa listened, understood, and then she encouraged me. She told me to keep dreaming, and to pursue whatever my creative passion is. I almost teared up. Sometimes, you need to hear the words out loud. 

Thank you, Sabaa. For your stories, for your hard work, for representation, for listening. 16-year-old me wished she saw South Asian heroines in stories written by South Asian authors. 22-year-old me is so happy that authors like Sabaa are brave enough for all of us. 

A huge thanks to the amazing staff at Politics & Prose who made this event possible, and special. The event was filled to capacity so there was a long line, but the staff kept things running smoothly and efficiently. I loved the opportunity to attend the meet & greet before the main event, and I really liked being able to get my books signed first because I was a meet & greet attendee! 

And thank you, Penguin, for sending Sabaa to D.C.! I'm so glad I didn't miss the event. =)

Stay tuned for a giveaway (hopefully)! The preorder of Reaper that I bought through P&P was actually my second copy - I didn't need to preorder another copy but I did in order to get access to the meet & greet. So I got that copy just signed (not personalized). I will give it away on Twitter!

Blog Tour: A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

Hello and welcome to the blog tour for A Reaper at the Gates! This is book three of the bestselling Ember Quartet, and it publishes on June 12th. I can't wait! 

Today, I'm sharing 100 thoughts I had while (re)reading A Torch Against the Night (book two)!

(Before I begin, you should know that there could be spoilers or implications of spoilers, for A Torch Against the Night.)

1. Okie dokie, I barely remember anything from the ending of An Ember in the Ashes... 

2. Elias/Laia, how are y'all not getting chills from this lone child?!

3. Why does she want silver? That's very specific.

4. "Murderer! Killer! Death himself! Reaper walking!" OMGGGGGGGGG!

5. The Commandant is lowkey freaky.

6. Trying to wrap my head around this mother so hellbent on killing her son.

7. Elias can't do it! Ahhh!

8. Oh hello, Helene. I did not miss you.

9. Well I guess I feel sorry for her.

10. She's protecting Elias so I can give her points for that.

11. Hmmm. I don't trust her father.

12. Back to Laia and what is going on with the silver-loving demons?!

13. Yooo. Elias is super injured. Come on, Laia!

14. Yikes. Is now the right time to be asking Laia about if she kissed Keenan? LOL.

15. Ugghhh. I'm so anxious now! Poisoned Elias + useful Laia = bad combination.

16. Elias is hardcore hallucinating. Or something. 

17. This Forest is creepy and so is this Soul Catcher.

18. Helene! Girl you a mess! How many broken ribs?!

19. Oooo, I like the name "Aelia". Is it "Ah LEE ah"? Or "AA lee uh"? Or "EE lee uh"? I like the second one. 

20. Marcus is a jerk. There, I said it. 

21. A smart one though. Sending Helene to capture Elias? That's smart.

22. I forgot Helene had that weird healing power. Everyone has some sort of power in this book. Except Elias. But that's okay. He is a badass warrior. YUM.

23. Everyone is good at eavesdropping, it seems.

24. Chaos in the market!

25. Wait... she disappeared?

26. OMG. Imagine waking up and thinking you were sold out by the person that was helping you? That's unfortunate.

27. Great, so Elias has a solid death sentence.

28. Hello again, Helene. Who is Nightbringer?

29. Yawn. I'm bored. Breezing through this chapter.

30. Laia's armlet! I have one of those.

31. Elias is such a badass. Deflecting arrows with a scimitar is a skill I need in my life.

32. Ugh Keenan. I wish he would never make an appearance again.

33. I really want to shove his face in dirt.

34. Okay now we're back to Helene but two weeks earlier? Do I need a blast from the past right now? Back to Elias, please!

35. OMG. Pull rank on 'er, Helene!

36. OMG OMG OMG. Helene's sister is going to be marrying the Emperor?!

37. Laia is soooo good at playing with everyone's emotions. "Keenan is my friend." "Elias is my friend." GIRL STOP LYING TO YOURSELF. 

38. LOL. The sass coming out of Elias. I am a fan!

39. Hmmm. Someone cut that rope.

40. Ugh, Keenan. How can you not find him creep. "I missed you" - what?

41. Afya!!!!

42. Mamie!!!!

43. OMG. Mamie is a badass! It obviously runs in the family! Talk about a powerful woman!

44. Time for a good old-fashioned riot!

45. Oh no. :(

46. Elias needs a hug, fam.

47. I forgot who Tristas was.

48. Elias, the martyr.

49. Back to Helene. I'm not really all that into her narratives.

50. LOL, Helene's mother is such a mom. "Your mother asks that I remind you to eat." Love it!

51. Why do I have a bad feeling about Harper?

52. WOAH. The Soul Catcher is something that exists outside of dreams? Mind blown.

53. Well, this was a weird chapter. Get going, Elias!

54. Back to Helene again. Are we avoiding Laia's POV?

55. Aha! Laia's POV. Oooo, she's reading Elias's note. She's pissed that he left! And apparently, four weeks have passed. Wow!

56. Yikes, that Commandant killing all of the prisoners might light a fire under our heroine's tail.

57. Aaand what's Helene doing in a dress? Ooo, she has pockets for her scimitars.

58. Ahhh, everything always comes down to one holiday night. Rathana is the night to end everything. Elias's expiration date thanks to the poison. Also the Empire's execution date for him (if they catch him). Man, this guy has no chance!

59. Chaos back on Laia's side of things! What is happening? I don't even know!

60. Ohhhh, they've been had. Masks! Masks everywhere! Hide in the hidden compartments, obviously!

61. Laia is doing her disappearing act! What in the world?

62. Aaaand we have Major Death #2. Too bad it wasn't Keenan. (I'm serious.)

63. Dang! Elias has reached Kauf! You go boy!

64. He is such a great actor.

65. Oh! But he's been had. Whomp whomp.

66. Wait I'm confused what is happening with Helene, why is she whining about her family or Elias. Clearly I missed some sort of life-threatening threat.

67. Honestly? This Augur person/thing is weird. Stop speaking in riddles. It does no one any good.

68. Poor Laia. I do feel sorry for her. That was rough. :(

69. Ooo, I love the name "Ayan". So many great "A" names in this book.

70. Ayyy, do the thing, Gibran!

71. LOL Keenan, gtfo. Afya is setting him straight.

72. Ugh, Elias. What have you gotten yourself into. 

73. Ahhh, Keenan. Taking advantage of a grieving girl. 

74. Ahhh, this poor little boy. Elias, please get him out. You can leave Darin, but get this boy out. :(

75. Laia. The cloaks don't lie. 

76. Darin is not dead! I repeat, Darin is not dead! (Not yet, at least.) But we already knew that?

77. Why is Helene's POV even in this book? Nothing is happening.

78. OMG. I TAKE THAT BACK. OMG.

79. Izzi is honestly the best person of this book. This series. She understands Elias's need to make everyone his responsibility. 

80. And we meet Darin!

81. OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

82. I HATED THAT BASTARD.

83. Oh great, Elias has freed Darin and they still get caught. -_-

84. Well, this interrogation is going well. Or not.

85. Ahhh, Keenan. You did good. I recognized that you were slime from the moment you entered the series. But you worked yourself into this story reaaaaaaally well. Slime.

86. I almost feel bad for Laia. Almost. 

87. What's the significance of Laia's armlet?

88. Girl, you did that. Don't blame anyone but yourself. *shameless I-told-you-so*

89. Ohhh, I see. The Soul Catcher has all kinds of knowledge.

90. Wow the plot of this series escalated quickly. 

91. I guess Tristas was a friend of Elias's? I'm glad he got what he was looking for.

92. I really like Tas.

93. Okay, I really admire Helene, in this chapter. You go girl!

94. Who is this Mask that Laia is speaking with? He seems nice. Is it Avitas?

95. Izzi never trusted Keenan either! Smart girl.
96. OMG ELIAS NOOOOOOOO.

97. Oh my, poor Helene. But dang. The Commandant is savvy.

98. Ooo, Elias, making a deal with the devil. Well, not the devil. The Soul Catcher. The Charon of this cruel world. 

99. Oooo, Avitas has a secret!!!

100. Ahhhh, this was actually a good ending? Despite everything. Definitely not the ending of a second-to-last book. From this ending, we already knew this series would be at least four books long. Because the ending of the next book is going to have the cliffhanger!

And those are 100 thoughts I had while rereading book tour! I'm all caught up and ready for Reaper. And honestly? I enjoyed Torch more, the second time around. I had mixed feelings about it, and I wasn't sure how I felt when it was all said and done. But now that I've reread it, I actually quite liked the book. Bring on Reaper! (And book four as well, perhaps?)

About A Reaper at the Gates:

A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

Book Three of the Ember Quartet

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: June 12, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister's life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias's devotion–even at the cost of his humanity.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out the rest of the series:

  

(Click on the covers for more information!)

About the Author:

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

Website | Novel Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Sabaa might be coming to a city near you!

(Click the image above to see the tour dates!)

Waiting on Wednesday (#246): A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

Book Three of the An Ember in the Ashes series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: April 10, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger. 

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister’s life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight. 

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias’s devotion—even at the cost of his humanity.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

An Ember in the Ashes | A Torch Against the Night

Y'all, I am 100% here for these covers. Not just for the brown rep (yay though), but because they are so different. And that typography! I love the font. I hate mid-series cover changes as much as the next person, but I really like these covers. Although I may need to get the rest of the series in paperback rather than hardcover... too many books! I'm mostly interested in Elias's journey, ehhh on Laia and 100% apathetic about Helene. Elias though! He really makes the series (in my opinion).

Review: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Book Two of the An Ember in the Ashes series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: August 30, 2016

Rating: 3 stars

Source: ARC received via trade

Summary (from Goodreads):

A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead. 

What I Liked:

Huh. I feel a little bad about my rating, given how excited I was to read this book. Like, I have been ecstatic for months, after hearing that there would be a sequel. I adored An Ember in the Ashes. But this book didn't live up to my vast expectations. While I think it's a well-written book, and the author will go far with this one (like she did with Ember), there were many things that didn't work for ME, as a reader. 

Elias and Laia are the two most wanted people in the Empire. Fleeing chaos, the Commandant, the new Emperor Marcus, and the new Blood Shrike Helene, Elias and Laia are determined to reach Kauf prison and free Darin. But something deadly happens and slows the pair down, only to meet up with past allies, one of whom is questionable. Meanwhile, Helene struggles to gain respect and loyalty as the new Blood Shrike. Everyone knows of her deep friendship with Elias - including the Emperor, who sends Helene to hunt down and kill Elias. While hunting Elias and Laia, Helene will find out if she's capable of truly betraying her best friend - and what truly lies in her heart.

The positives: I was never bored, there are a lot more explanations about magic, the hunt is a merry chase, and the body count is pretty staggering (which makes things interesting). Other positives are more minor and I'll mention them briefly.

I was never bored while reading this book, which I always consider when I rate books. Was I bored? Was I enthralled? Did I want to chuck the book? Did I fall asleep? Did I want to hug the book? I wanted to chuck this book several times, but I definitely wasn't bored. Tahir writes an excellent story, and she writes it well. The plot is interesting (though I had issues with some of the events), there are twists and turns that are predictable but much appreciated.

I am very happy to see more explanations and usage of magic in this book. One of the things I wanted to see more of was magic, as well as why Laia seemed special, and what she was seeing. There are efrit and jinn and a reaper, all kinds of creepy and neat creatures. Pretty much everything mystical and magical in book one is explained in this book, and in big ways. Laia is and isn't as special as we think. Elias, on the other hand, has a lot going on in the magic world.

The body count is crazy high in this book. Most of them are Scholars, unnamed victims in the war. But there are some critical deaths in this book. The carnage is everywhere!

I'm feeling kind of ehh about Laia, but I loved Elias in this sequel. He undergoes a subtle transformation. He has always been more compassionate than most Masks, and that trait comes into play in a big way. Elias is hurt mentally and physically and emotionally the most in this book, and I kind of hate Laia for it (she's to blame, indirectly and directly), but I like what Elias has turned into. He is so selfless, and he uses his Mask training for good.

Overall, I think the author expanded this world really well, as well as she expanded the setting. Experiencing the story from Elias, Laia, and Helene's POV was interesting, and not too confusing. I'm impressed with the depth and raw emotion of this book, and how dark it is. But some things were not to my liking, and I'll discuss them below.

What I Did Not Like:

***PARAGRAPH FIVE HAS SPOILERS***

This book frustrated me. On the one hand, I had been SO excited to read it, and I wanted to love it. I saw great reviews even earlier than my own, so I knew that it probably wasn't going to disappoint. Emphasis on probably. On the other hand... well, now that I've read the book, I've found that I didn't love it. I wasn't feeling very positive at the end. I was trying to decide if I wanted to give this one three stars or four stars, but four stars seemed way too positive. I have no idea if my justifications for giving this book three stars will make sense, or "add up", but know that I don't *feel* like this is a four-star read!

I'll start with Laia. This whole story is about Laia trying to rescue her brother. On the surface, this book is stupid. One girl trying to rescue one boy? One girl dragging down the Empire for one boy? One girl ruining Elias Veturius's life for one boy? And... that's pretty much the foundation for this sequel. I was frustrated by this. Laia is selfish - yes, it is her brother. Yes, he is supposedly able to make weapons of Serric steel (something like that - it's a rare thing). But I hate Laia a little, because of what happens to Elias because of all of this.

And trust me, I know part of me is being irrational. Elias made the choice to take Laia to Kauf. He chose, of his own free will, to leave the Empire and the Masks and not become Emperor. But I hate how Laia pushes him into doing this or that, because Elias pays for it. Dearly. Painfully. Horribly.

It was hard to read. I liked Elias and Laia both, in book one, but I really liked Elias in this book. It's clear to me that he is selfless and kind and fiercely loyal - and it almost seems like Laia is taking advantage of those qualities.

SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.

ESPECIALLY when you enter in Keenan, the leader of the Scholar resistance. He roars back into the picture, and suddenly, the love triangle that I could have sworn wouldn't be a thing, was a thing. Laia and Elias have a great thing going on until Keenan pops back up, and then Laia is suddenly in love with him, but it seems like she has strong feelings for Elias... right? Well, in any case, Laia loves Keenan. Kisses Keenan. Has sex with Keenan. 

*sigh* My problem with this is simply that Laia is lying to herself. She does indeed fall for Keenan (there is something that happens in the end that is proof of this), but it's artificial. Message me if you want spoilers, because the ending isn't pro-Keenan. It's weird how the author arrives at this ending, in terms of the romance. Good weird, if you like Elias and Laia. But not definitive. In any case, Laia makes a mistake with Keenan, in my opinion. How can you have sex with someone you think you love, when you feel some type of way about another person (Elias)?

In any case, we were all worried about the wrong love triangle. Helene and Elias are not a thing, anymore, or ever. Helene was out to kill Elias this whole time, and Elias was evading her, knowing she was hunting him. I felt bad for Helene.

Okay so I pretty much hated the romance. I HATE love triangles, so the idea of one love triangle popping back up sickened me. I liked that the love triangle with Helene disappeared. I didn't like the reappearance of the Keenan love triangle, regardless of the ending. About which I will not mention too much.

Oh, but I didn't like the ending either. Tahir does something with Elias that I abhor. I liked what she did with Keenan, with Darin, with Laia (even though I kind of dislike Laia right now), but not Elias. Elias goes from one prison to another to another, and it's a different type, every time. Physical, mental, emotional... I hate them all. Elias suffers the worst, out of anyone. He literally cannot catch a break and it infuriates me.

ESPECIALLY since most of it is Laia's fault. ESPECIALLY since I feel like Laia does not suffer at all, yet it was her suicide mission from the start. 

Which, by the way, also makes me mad. This whole book is about rescuing one boy (well, most of the book). I felt like that was kind of a ridiculous premise? Laia and Elias are fleeing the wrath of the Empire, yes, but rescuing Darin seems superficial compared to fighting a war. Especially given how many innocent people died to break out one boy, because those innocent people helped hide Laia, or fight for Laia. STUPID LAIA. 

Can we assume that there will be a third book? Because the ending of this book was terrible for Elias, but terrible in general. How can you end a series like that? You can't. I see that Goodreads has a book three up, so this makes me breathe a little easier.

I'll stop there.

Would I Recommend It:

I feel like it doesn't matter if I say that I recommend it or not, because this series is a bestselling series already and no one needs to make up their minds about it? If you've read AND liked An Ember in the Ashes, this book is definitely worth reading (hopefully you'll like it more than I did).

However, if you didn't like An Ember in the Ashes, or felt iffy about it, skip this book. 

And if you haven't read An Ember in the Ashes, skip this series. Or binge-read all three books. Trust me on this!

Rating:

3 stars. Tahir, I could not care less who ends up with who, or who dies. I just want Elias to come out of everything free, sane, and with all ten toes and fingers. I literally do not care if he and Laia are together in the end. I'm 100% sure he and Helene are never happening (this is speculation, not spoilers). But I want to see Elias eating ice cream at the end of this series, or something. I feel so bad for him!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Waiting on Wednesday (#152): A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Book Two of the An Ember in the Ashes series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: April 26, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Okay. You all saw how many promo campaign posts I did for this series. I LOVED An Ember in the Ashes and cannot wait for this (hopefully amazing) sequel!

Playlist: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Hey everyone! Welcome to the final phase of the An Ember in the Ashes fan activity! Phase Five is all about Romance, so I'll be featuring my OTP and favorite-ship-ever, Elias and Laia. And be sure to check out my posts for Phase One (Name the Fandom), Phase Two (Sequel Excitement), Phase Three (Character Love), and Phase Four (Fan Art Celebration).

When I took a look at what the fifth phase would feature, I immediately thought, romance? Team Laia? Team Helene? No no no. First of all, there is only Laia and Elias. Helene, you're cool (errr, kind of), but not that cool. You can have... Keenan.

So! Want to see the playlist I came up with, that represents Elias and Laia's romance, through my eyes? Each song embodies a scene in the book featuring Elias and Laia that made me swoon! Elias and Laia's romance is kind of a slow-burn type, so all of these songs are gentle and seductive in their own way. Enjoy!

ALSO - there are totally spoilers, if you haven't read the book.

Josh Groban - To Where You Are

Elias and Laia, at the Moon Festival

I loooove Josh Groban. All of his music is so dreamy! This particular song fits this scene, in my opinion. Elias and Laia are both enjoying the festival and pretending their lives are different. For even just a moment, Laia can flirt with a boy, and Elias can flirt with Laia. I like this stanza from the song:

Fly me up to where you are

Beyond the distant star

I wish upon tonight

To see you smile

If only for awhile to know you're there

A breath away's not far

To where you are

Because I think it fits well with the mood. The two of them dance, and they feel free at the Festival.

A pleasant peacefulness steals over me. No one looks at me with loathing or free. I don't have to watch my back to keep up the granite exterior. I feel free. (page 258)

The mischief in his eyes makes me forget, for a too-brief second, that I am a slave and that my brother is in prison and that everyone else I love is dead. (page 266)

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Elias and Laia, in Elias's room, when Laia is taken as his prize

Quite possibly my favorite scene of the entire book! I chose Chasing Cars because of these lines in the song:

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Which I think go pretty neatly with this scene. Laia asks Elias to be just Elias and just Laia, not Aspirant and Scholar.

"Maybe we don't have to be Scholar slave and Mask," I drop the dagger. "For tonight, maybe we can just be Laia and Elias." (page 370)

The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine

Elias and Laia, Elias choosing to defend Laia at the Trial of Loyalty

I love the Civil Wars. This is my favorite song of theirs. This song fits the Trial of Loyalty pretty well, at least on a metaphorical level. Elias cares about Laia so much that he refuses to harm her, and therefore, win the Trial. She is "wine" to him, because he cares about her, but she is also "poison", because he cannot harm her in the Trial, given his feelings. He has no choice in the matter, because he cares about her so much.

Oh your mouth is poison, your mouth is wine

...

I don't have a choice but I'd still choose you

...

Oh I don't love you but I always will

Elias is presented with the opportunity to win the Trials, but he can't do it.

"I told you there's a line I'm not crossing." I feel strangely calm as I say it, calmer than I've felt in weeks. Laia's eyes shift from Helene to me rapidly. "This is that line. I won't kill her." (page 387)

Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day

Elias and Laia, the final scene

This one was a weird choice, because it fits more of Elias and Helene's relationship than anything else. But I like it, because it has a finality to it, like Elias is leaving Blackcliff and entering the night (i.e. the unknown), with Laia.

Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple

Sometimes goodbye's the only way

I like these lines - a new beginning with Laia, though it wasn't easy to come about. A goodbye with Helene - she didn't (couldn't) come with him.

"Don't forget this, Helene," I say. "Don't forget us. Don't become like him." (page 445)

"I'm with you, Laia." I reach out and take her hand. She squeezes it. (page 446)

And that's that! All of these are some of my favorite songs, so now you know what type of music I like :)


About An Ember in the Ashes:

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Book One of the An Ember in the Ashes series
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: April 28, 2015

Official Summary:

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

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About the Author:

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

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